Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD – is a treatable but irreversible long-term respiratory condition which affects the lungs and airways, making it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. The main risk factors are environmental exposure to certain irritating particles, genetic factors and, above all, tobacco consumption: 80 to 90% of the COPD diagnosed patients are smokers, the reason why this disease is often wrongly qualified as the “normal” and “expected” smoker’s cough. COPD is more prevalent in the lower socio-economic groups and contributes to health inequality.
COPD affects up to 10% of the adult population in Europe and according to available data, it kills between 200,000 and 300,000 people every year.

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